Government Reporting

Baden Retirement Plan Services is an independent third party administrator (TPA) assists clients in reporting certain required information to government entities for tax qualified defined contribution plans, such as 401(k) plans. Plan sponsors (employers) are required to file an annual return, or report, with the Federal government called a Department of Labor (DOL) Form 5500 Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan. The DOL Form 5500 is designed to disclose information about the plan and its operation to the Department of Labor (DOL), the plan's participants, and to the public.

DOL Form 5500

Due to the office of the Department of Labor by the last day of the seventh month following the close of the plan year.
Filing extensions are available by completing DOL Form 5558
Timely-filed extensions of DOL Form 5558 allow for two and a half additional months to file DOL Form 5500
Is part of the Summary Annual Report that is a required component of a tax qualified retirement plan
- The Summary Annual Report must be provided to all plan participants free of charge
- The Summary Annual Report must be provided to all plan participants no later than nine months after the close of the plan year; plan sponsors receive an additional two months to comply if the DOL Form 5500 is on extension

Form 5500 Electronic Filing Assistance

Form 5500 electronic filing through the EFAST2 system is required beginning January 2010 for the 2009 Form 5500 filings. The EFAST2 system, is a collaborative initiative between multiple agencies, including DOL, IRS, and PBGC, that will require plan sponsors to obtain special e-filing credentials and follow specific processes in order to properly file their Form 5500, schedules and audit report, if required.

Baden Retirement Plan Services will facilitate the process for its clients by using Relius Government Forms 5500 Web Client.

Relius Government Forms 5500 Web Client will allow Baden to give clients an "efficient and easy way to gather all necessary information and electronically file their 5500 forms and schedules."¹

Baden Retirement Plan Services will help clients understand how to collaborate with our office electronically, via Relius Government Forms 5500 Web Client, to be able to more easily and efficiently:

Gather all necessary information
Obtain and maintain e-filing credentials (signature IDs and PINs)
Electronically file the Form 5500, schedules and if needed, auditor's report

For more information, contact Tom Ackmann at (260) 969-2677 or use our Contact Us form to e-mail your inquiry.

¹ http://www.sungard.com/financial systems/productofferings/reliusgovernmentforms5500webclient...8/31/2009